Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-11-04
MEDICAL EXAMINING BOARD.
The Interest IhereIu TO :he State
aud Medical Profession.
SALEM, Va, October 81, 1887.


cal Examining Board OF the State and
the discussions elected in these bodies
, has excited very widespread interest
among the doctors of the State ; and
there is some apprehension among them
in regard 10 future legislation, lest per
, adventure the efficiency Of the board
may be seriously trammelled thereby, or
even destroyed.
For many long years prior to the
establishment of the Medical Examining
Board by legislative enactment, entitled
"an act to regulate the practice Of medi-
cine, all any one had to do who desired
= to practice medicine within her borders
regardless of qualification was to apply
for license to the commissioner OF the
revenue Of the county, pay the fees and
liccuse-taX, when he was sent forth TO
practice one of the most important and
responsible callings upon earth, with all
the privileges and cmoluments Of the
most learned and conscientious physi-
cilns of the land. This state of things
brought opprobrium upon the profession
and state. Consequently, Macedonian
cry went up from the doctors from every
part Of the state for some legislation TO
cXalt the standard of the practice Of
medicine in the Old Dominion.
In the forefront Of those anxious to
secure some immunity to the prof, ssion
and State from ignorance, cmplricism.
and yillainous quackery stood the grand
and learned Dr. Cabell, OF our Univer-
sity DR.. John Peter Mcttedur. of
Prince Edward and his distinguished
sons Drs. Francis, Joseph, and Henry
Archer DIS Joyncs and Wexford Of
Richmond, and Payne and Latham, of
Lynchburg, and a host Of other diatiu-
guished and good men. Many OF these
splendid men have passed away TO their
reward long before they attained the
consummation Of this their cherished
scheme Some OF them, thank Heaven,
yet remain 10 the State and us-men OF
sound Judgment and large practical cN-
pericncc, whose zeal is still as manifest,
and whose interest IS as Incompatible
and immcasmabc for the good Of their
profession and state as it was in their
earlier years.
With such props remaining of the old
sumd, supplemented with the bIisLt
and shining lights of the new and younger
profession, IN perspicuous advance
guard of winch stand IRIS. Hunter
McGuirc, Brock, Edwards, Ross, and
very many others OF your city DIS.
Owen, Blackboard, and Grey Latham, of
LynchbGrg ClalbourUe and St0ckdcll,
OF Petersburg Carmichael and Martin.
OF fredericksburg Drs. Dabncv and
Nelson, OF Charlottesville DIS. Kinney,
of AccOmack; Cooper, Of Fauquler
Nash, of Norfolk Robertson, of Dan
vile, and in the rural districts Drs. Black,
IrWuhloth, Preston, Apporson, Walker,
Mcdonald, Grammcr, Cooper, Goodwin,
Hooper, and Holloway, not forgetting
that grand old orator OF the society, DR.
Samuel Gleaycs. Wood, Of Botct9uIb
and our dear old friend Dr. john b.
Taylor, son Of the late judge Alien
Taylor, Of sacred memory t. Nireiuia.
and Il host OF others (Worthy Of honor /.
able mcntionJ whom to designate by
name would make our paper too long. .
The aggregation Of such influences. +
coupled with the combined efforts OF
nor, than five hundred enrolled intclli- /
gent physicians Of the State, were q
tower OF strength and a power in the
land. At last they had the pleasure OF
knowing that the Macedonian cry had
been heard and partially answered
say partially, because the act regulating
the practice Of medicine and the appoint
mcnt OF Medical Examining Board did
not come up in full fruiton ID the re-
quirements of the emergency. We all
felt it was tentative effort on the part
of the physicians Of the State AMI the
Legislature OF Virginia 10 cxalt the pro-
ficiency and standard of the practice Of
medicine throughout her bOrdcrs-a pro-
phylactlc against quackcry-and We
hopcd vas the initiative Of something ,
better to follow. 1t was, therefore, .
accepted because II Way So
much bCfi'r WGU M bouTd amt no iuU
n M. That the board has already ac-
much good and is now ma 3
turing plans for aconscryltiye cXaltation {
d medical proficiency throughout the j
state there is ample proof. That the a
board has made some mistakes is not de- i
lied and was to be expected, because it
vas novel. untried, and beset with diff
,ulties. No set OF men of any board
yer had more difficulties to overcome D
Popular sentiment had not been edu- y
'atcd as TO its necessity, and in many .
,accs the law had never been read, or ii a,
cad at all. although plain and explicit, y
understood and executed. y,
n some fragrant violations of the law a
he attorney for the Commonwealth \
ought 10 have the board turn prOsocu- .
or instead Of the State, and members Of l.
he board have been cited to appear as ~
illnesses against yiolatorS of the law. y
'hercas no witnesses from the board W
ere ever contemplated by the law. and "
'ould not have been required had the .
ttorncys done their duty and complied ).
18th the requirements Of the act OF the -
legislature. I
There was no money appropriated to "
the board or even 10 re- ~.
nbarse 10 them tic amounts actually 10
aid out. But the board chccrfully met 7,
le expenses OF travel, hotel bills, &C.. to W,
y nothing Of loss OF professional time.
hey also met the expenses Of litigation
sential to establish the constitutionality
the board, which should have been tr
ct 10y the State. lis true each candi- VI
lto had to pay fee Of five dollars, but ie
is was generally absorbed by printing, an
and other absolute expenses. La
In these and other trying emergencies at
o board did not have that hearty co.
'ention OF all the good people Of the lf'
ate which they had a right TO expect. az
cry many were seemingly indi1crcntas Ia
its well-being and success. Some who Sc,
lew nothing OF medicine, its wa is and ,
expediencies, having nothing else to WI
We, gdrc advice, which was often and sp'
nerally us valueless as 1t was chap. gu
hers. more censorious than this self res
instituted advisory board, were contin- pa!
y criticizing adversely the action of "a
. board. This was especially manifest an'
len these critics had Il son, brother, III
lsin, or dear friend rejected. Mean pie
ile the board pursued the even tenor VIII
its way, ever regardful of the law and
} suggestions of the wise and good,
l taking little Iced to the pitiless pelt-
Is of unjust criticism however, real